25
JOINT
VENTURES
Construction begins on
Utah joint-venture ASC
By Marcus Robertson
S
alt Lake City-based Intermountain Healthcare broke
ground on a Saratoga Springs, Utah, campus that will
hold an ASC, according to a Nov. 8 report by ABC af-
filiate KTVX.
The ASC will be a joint venture between Intermountain and
local surgeons, according to the report.
The facility is expected to open by the end of 2022. n
Andrews Ambulatory
Surgery to build 1st 3 ASC
projects in Florida
By Marcus Robertson
A
ndrews Ambulatory Surgery, the newly formed joint
venture ASC company led by orthopedic surgeon
James Andrews, MD, is building its first three ASCs
in Northeast Florida.
The ASC projects are allowing independent physician in-
vestment and are being built in partnership with St. Augus-
tine, Fla.-based Flagler Health+. The surgery centers will be
located at Flagler locations in St. Augustine, Palm Coast and
Durbin Park, according to a Nov. 3 news release.
Andrews Ambulatory Surgery and joint venture partner
Sovereign Healthcare in Mission Viejo, Calif., are set to lead
the development and operation of the ASCs, according to
the release. n
Washington hospital,
orthopedic practice
opening joint-venture ASC
By Patsy Newitt
P
roliance Orthopedic Associates and Valley Medical
Center, both based in Renton, Wash., are opening an
ASC on Dec. 15, Proliance said.
The center, also in Renton, will offer total hip and knee
replacement surgery and spinal surgery.
The joint venture allows the groups to educate surgeons
about robotic knee replacement and revision and hip re-
placement surgery. n
Florida ASC
faces continued
opposition from hospital
By Marcus Robertson
A
t a Dec. 7 city commissioners' meeting, officials from
Jackson Hospital in Marianna, Fla., protested the city's
proposed incentives for the Tallahassee Orthopedic
Center to open an outpatient facility there, ABC affiliate WMBB
reported Dec. 8.
Representatives from the hospital said they opposed TOC open-
ing a separate diagnostic imaging and physical therapy facility in
addition to the outpatient surgery center, the report said. Hospital
officials said it would compete for the same patients and could cost
hundreds of jobs.
Joe Gay, MD, a Jackson Hospital internist, said it will threaten the
hospital's future.
"No matter how agreeable a partnership has been with the Talla-
hassee Orthopedic Center in the past, if they were to proceed with
the development of their own surgery center, it would impact the
financial health of our hospital," Dr. Gay said.
Hospital officials previously said they hoped the orthopedic prac-
tice will consider a joint venture ASC with Jackson Hospital as the
majority owner.
"[I]t will keep our hospital alive," Jackson Hospital physician Rich-
ard Christopher, MD, told NBC affiliate WJHG. "If we don't [agree
on a joint venture], this hospital is going to die, and I bet it'll die
within five years."
Commissioners asked the Tallahassee Orthopedic Center to accept
$200,000 in economic incentives in exchange for postponing the
diagnostic imaging and physical therapy centers until five years
aer they open the surgery center, the report said. n
